Northeast Ohio-based organizations push for stricter laws surrounding fentanyl

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – James Rauh is aware of the ache of dropping a beloved one to fentanyl all too nicely.

His son, Tom, died from an overdose when he was solely 37 years outdated.

“Tom was a beautiful, gifted man… he used it I imagine to deal with stress and to have enjoyable and he turned hooked on it,” stated Rauh.

In an effort to get the drug off our streets, Rauh began the Akron-based non-profit Households Towards Fentanyl in 2018.

“There has by no means been a chemical that we’ve been uncovered to that’s so deadly and so addictive,” stated Rauh.

Rauh and different mother and father who’ve misplaced their youngsters to fentanyl overdoes got here collectively in Cleveland’s Public Sq. for a rally on Friday.

They stated the aim of the rally was to lift consciousness in regards to the drug and push for stricter legal guidelines surrounding it.

“We’re dropping our children in droves… that is insane and we have to make a change in the present day,” stated Cathy Lawley, co-founder Affiliation of Individuals Towards Deadly medication. “We have to elevate consciousness.”

Lawley misplaced her son to a fentanyl overdose two years in the past.

She stated drug sellers must be held accountable and face harsher penalties.

“Really there’s no legislation of drug-induced murder which is in another states. Right here if there was a conviction, it could be manslaughter,” stated Lawley.

Ruah is taking it a step additional and stated fentanyl must be thought-about a weapon of mass destruction.

“It’s a slow-motion weapon of mass destruction, by this time subsequent may have killed 100,000 individuals by itself,” stated Rauh.

One factor all of the mother and father can agree on is one thing must be achieved about this harmful drug.

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